Veteran wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal has said that India should look to add Umran Malik to their playing eleven. Malik had a great season in IPL 2022 and this helped him to represent India in white-ball cricket. The pace bowler has done well for India and put in some good show against Sri Lanka recently as well. But, India backed Shardul Thakur in the first two games against New Zealand in the ongoing ODI series as well. Thakur has done well in the matches against the visitors as well.

However, Akmal feels Malik should be there in the lineup for India. Speaking on his YouTube channel, as quoted by News 18, he said the Indian bowling unit may struggle in batting-friendly conditions and it will be important for them to add him in the squad as well.

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“This Indian bowling unit might struggle in conditions that are good for batting, especially against top teams. It is very important for India to accommodate Umran Malik in the playing XI,” said Akmal. “He is getting better and better and can surely prove to be a matchwinner. The bowling lineup will look very strong when Jasprit Bumrah returns.”

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“India should look to whitewash New Zealand. The team is very high on confidence and the players look in a good rhythm. The good thing about this Indian side is that they have won matches while both chasing and defending. We have seen in the past that they prefer to chase. However, they want to tick all the boxes ahead of the World Cup,” concluded Kamran Akmal.